Childhood obesity
Authors: C. Campbell
Journal: BMJ (2000)

# Breast feeding is important {#article-title-2} EDITOR—Frühbeck does not consider the role of infant feeding in the aetiology of childhood overweight and obesity.1 Dewey et al found that formula fed infants were heavier than those who received no milk other than breast milk in the first 12 months, although they were of similar length and head circumference.2 The study also found that the energy intake of breastfed infants was lower than that of formula fed infants, even after the introduction of solids, and suggested that relatively low energy intakes are a function of self regulation in breastfed infants. Von Kries et al found in children aged 5 and 6 years a substantial, dose dependent, protective effect of breast feeding on obesity and overweight: three to five months of exclusive breast feeding was associated with a 35% reduction in obesity at the age of 5 to 6 years. They discuss the evidence for a programming effect of breast feeding in preventing obesity and overweight in later life.3 Breast feeding mothers lose weight after pregnancy more effectively than those who feed artificially, an advantage seen over at least the first 12 months of breast feeding.4 It seems that promoting and supporting breast feeding should be part of the initiative to tackle the “epidemic of obesity.” 5 1. 1.↵1. Frühbeck G . Childhood obesity: time for action, not complacency. BMJ 2000; 320: 328–329. (5 February.) [OpenUrl][1][FREE Full Text][2] 2. 2.↵1. Dewey KG, 2. Heinig MJ, 3. Nommsen LA, 4. Peerson JM, 5. Lonnerdal B . Growth of breast-fed and formula-fed infants from 0 to 18 months: the DARLING Study. Pediatrics 1992; 89: 1035–1041. [OpenUrl][3][Abstract/FREE Full Text][4] 3. 3.↵1. Von Kries R, 2. Koletzko B, 3. Sauerveld T, 4. Von Mutius E, 5. Barnert D, 6. Grunert V, 7. et al . Breast feeding and obesity: cross sectional study. BMJ 1999; 319: 147–150. [OpenUrl][5][Abstract/FREE Full Text][6] 4. 4.↵1. Dewey KG, 2. Heinig MJ, 3. Nommsen LA . Maternal weight loss patterns during prolonged lactation. Am J Clin Nutr 1993; 58: 162–166. [OpenUrl][7][Abstract/FREE Full Text][8] 5. 5.↵1. Mayor S . European plan to put obesity on governments' health agenda. BMJ 1999; 318: 1574. [OpenUrl][9][FREE Full Text][10] # Aim should be weight maintenance, not loss {#article-title-8} EDITOR—Frühbeck's call for action over childhood obesity was heartening.1 However, we have concerns about the focus of the editorial. Firstly, we believe that weight maintenance rather than weight loss should be the goal of treatment of obesity in childhood while height growth continues. Weight loss is difficult to achieve, and drop-out rates are up to 90% in large series.2 Additionally, ill-advised intake restriction may compromise nutrition and growth during vulnerable periods. Weight maintenance during the growing years is more easily achieved than weight loss 3 and … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft.stitle%253DBMJ%26rft.issn%253D0007-1447%26rft.aulast%253DFruhbeck%26rft.auinit1%253DG.%26rft.volume%253D320%26rft.issue%253D7231%26rft.spage%253D328%26rft.epage%253D329%26rft.atitle%253DChildhood%2Bobesity%253A%2Btime%2Bfor%2Baction%252C%2Bnot%2Bcomplacency%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.320.7231.328%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F10657308%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=FULL&journalCode=bmj&resid=320/7231/328&atom=%2Fbmj%2F320%2F7246%2F1401.atom [3]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPediatrics%26rft.stitle%253DPediatrics%26rft.issn%253D0031-4005%26rft.aulast%253DDewey%26rft.auinit1%253DK.%2BG.%26rft.volume%253D89%26rft.issue%253D6%26rft.spage%253D1035%26rft.epage%253D1041%26rft.atitle%253DGrowth%2Bof%2BBreast-Fed%2Band%2BFormula-Fed%2BInfants%2BFrom%2B0%2Bto%2B18%2BMonths%253A%2BThe%2BDARLING%2BStudy%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F1594343%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [4]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=pediatrics&resid=89/6/1035&atom=%2Fbmj%2F320%2F7246%2F1401.atom [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft.stitle%253DBMJ%26rft.issn%253D0007-1447%26rft.aulast%253Dvon%2BKries%26rft.auinit1%253DR.%26rft.volume%253D319%26rft.issue%253D7203%26rft.spage%253D147%26rft.epage%253D150%26rft.atitle%253DBreast%2Bfeeding%2Band%2Bobesity%253A%2Bcross%2Bsectional%2Bstudy%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.319.7203.147%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F10406746%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=319/7203/147&atom=%2Fbmj%2F320%2F7246%2F1401.atom [7]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DThe%2BAmerican%2BJournal%2Bof%2BClinical%2BNutrition%26rft.stitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BClin%2BNutr%26rft.issn%253D0002-9165%26rft.aulast%253DDewey%26rft.auinit1%253DK.%2BG.%26rft.volume%253D58%26rft.issue%253D2%26rft.spage%253D162%26rft.epage%253D166%26rft.atitle%253DMaternal%2Bweight-loss%2Bpatterns%2Bduring%2Bprolonged%2Blactation%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F8338042%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [8]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=ajcn&resid=58/2/162&atom=%2Fbmj%2F320%2F7246%2F1401.atom [9]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft.stitle%253DBMJ%26rft.issn%253D0007-1447%26rft.aulast%253DMayor%26rft.auinit1%253DS.%26rft.volume%253D318%26rft.issue%253D7198%26rft.spage%253D1574%26rft.epage%253D1574%26rft.atitle%253DIn%2Bbrief%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F10364102%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [10]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=FULL&journalCode=bmj&resid=318/7198/1574&atom=%2Fbmj%2F320%2F7246%2F1401.atom